Magnetic lock



Jan. 22, 1946.

w. F. s-TRouD MAGNETIC LOCK Filed June 23, 1945 Inventor, mmflmym.

Patented Jan; 22, 1946 f MAGNETIC Look William Felix St'roud, Humber Bay. Ontario, can: ada,1assignor to Neptune Meters Limited; Long 43 Branch,--ntario, Canada 1 1 I Q "j App licaticn June 23, 1945; Serial Ntgcoium' "6 Claims; (o1. ro -27s) I form or'lock structure withthe locking-bolt air;

,This invention relates to improvementsin'the cylinder orbarrel type of lockin .whichithe key is inserted into a rotatable cylindrical member which is adapted to co-operatewithamembar connected with a ,latch to operate the latch to unlock the door to which it is attached.

The principal object of: the present invention is to devise a novel form of structure which will present a 'multiplicity of combinations'of locking'elements sothat such may be selectively arranged in thecontrols. 7 i ,A further object is to devise .a formv of'lock which it will be. practically impossible to manipulate without having the proper key,

;A further important object is toidevise a lock of simple and economical construction which willgive the maximum of protection.

'I'he principalfeature of theinvention consists inthenovel construction and arrangement of a central 7 rotatable key-operated member surrounded by a plurality of freely rotatable rings, the co-operative operation of said rings and central member being controlled by magnetically operated members each having a recess adapted to be aligned to oo-operate with andto interlock'with a locking member,-said central rotatable member having magnetic elements adapted to engage and move said ring members into coe opera-ting alignmentin co-operation with a key member having certain vareas of nonemagneticmaterial. p 7 v In the accompanying drawing. g g Figure 1 is apart longitudinal section and part plan view of the rotatable inner portion of my improved lock in its locked position. a

, Figure 1 is a similar view to Figure l showing the inner portion in its unlocked position. 1

Figure 2 is a longitudinal mid-sectionalview of my improved lock taken on the -line 2 2 oi Figure 1. r I

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the lock structure with the inner end cap removed and showing the mechanism on the ure 1,

3 Figure 4 is a cross sectional view throughthe lock; taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

line 33 of Figshowing the magnetic members in engagement with the rings surrounding the central core., I 1 Figure 5 is a'viewsimilar to- Figure 4 .showing the magnetic members withdrawn from engagement with the encircling ring member;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken ontheline6 6ofFigure4. W Figure 715 a longitudinal sectionalviewtaken on' -thel'ine 1'll of Figure 8 showing. a modified ranged in a locking position. V t

Figure 8 is a cross sectional viewthrorugh. the lock structure shown in Figure 4'7 taken on the line 8-8 of Figure'7.

Figure 9 is a crosssectional view similar to Figure 8 showing the arrangement of the severalparts, when the locking bolt is in the .zun-

locked position. V v V Figure 10 is a perspective view of the disc for limiting the movement of the key. Figure llis an elevational view of a key. showing the magnetic plugs. w H

Numerous types or magnetic lockshave been proposed, some of which have proposed the use of a magnetized pin which movedto' interlock with an adjacent element and it has been proposed to control such magnetic pin by, means of a key having a body of magnetic material with non-magnetic inserts or a'body of non-magnetic material with magnetic inserts, such inserts arranged to be brought-into register with the magnetic pin to causethem tofunction. Y I The present invention however difi'ers mate-r rially from these known structures. In the device herein shown and referring particularly to Flgures l to 6 a preferably cylindrical body I, formed of steel or othersuitable magnetic material, is formed with a cylindrical central orifice 2 opening at one end from thecylinder and terof which has a circumferential notch 6 extending either side of the opening 5 in a circumferential direction and eachnotch being of a difiering length. Said notches are preferably substantially half the width of each of the rings 4 and such notches are arranged-so that the notch in one ring is spaced from the notch of the other ring by the intervening ring material.

These spring rings are inserted into the orifice 2 under slighttension so that they will not turn therein unless some pressure is applied.

A cylindrical block 1 is freely rotatable within the assembledtrings 4 and it is formed with a longitudinal slot 8 which is preferably of rectangular cross section and opens to the perimeter.

A bolt 9 of'rect'angular cross section is slidably mounted in the longitudinal slot 8 and has a plurality of upwardly or radiallyv projecting teeth I0 which'teeth are 01 a slightly lesser dimension than the width or the notches =6, and the width .of the bolt- 9 and itsrlugss H) are of slightly lessermagnetizedr pinf2 2. q

The rings :4 are each formed with notches :23v

dimension than the circumferential width of the openings 5 through the spring rings 4. One end of the bolt 9 is provided with a bevelled end II.

A thin metal plate I2 is arranged to close the cylindrical orifice 2 and it is rigidly secured to the open end of the cylindrical body I and thus retains the block I and its surrounding spring rings within the orifice 2. .Said plate {has a quadrangle opening 11 therethrough whi ch :permits the'bevelled end ll of the bolt '9 to project outwardly through the plate when the block il and the rings are in predetermined relative position.

A plate I3 is rigidly secured to the end of the member I holding the thin plate I2QrigidIy'theretO and the plate I3 is provided with 'a cylindrical recess M in which is rotat-ably mounted a cylindrical member 15 which has a transverse radial notch in its face adjacent to the plated-2 which is adapted to receive the bevelled end of the bolt 9 when it aproj'ects through :the orifice in the plate l2 so that the member will be rotated with the cylindrical block J'Lwhen the block member 15 engage. l

The bolt 9 is provided tending ipin =16 =.which:extends :through the 'slotted side of a cylindrical-sorificel'! :arranged longitudinally :parallel with the longitu'din'al -s'lot-'8 in the member 1 and which opens thereto. L. The

pin in :the bolt :9 extends :through the intercommunicating slotand engages :a block II 8 eperated zbyaicoilispring I 9 housed inthe recess N.

Thi spring pressing against theipinilfi :urges the bolt .so that its bevelled rend engages'lthethin Plate. and w en the bolt "is turned to such at inithe same transverse plane in the member 1 .small.

and in reach .of. these aorifices :is arranged a in their inner :periphery, which :notchesr align with .0113 or more 10f ithe :pin lOI'ifiGeS 21 and the notches .a're :each formed withrshoulrlnrs 524 against which :the pins a2! "will engage whenxthey are :moved :outwardly .and these pins :move-aou't wardly under theirown magnetic influence being attracted outward by the encirclingiheavy :steel f body I.

fl he cylindrical block of "the flat faces of then-recess 5 :zisxarran fi parallel with and in *very close relation :to :the inward ends of the orifices 21 so :that :ai'key. iwith agnetic portions, when :placed in salidslot will overcome :the magnetic attraction ref ithexlcuter casingl and the pins iwillzmove inwardly.

, The --key'ls preferably made of amen-magnetic material and '-has a plurality :of iplug'iinserts v or magnetic material placed t erein-"to align certain {Of the holes 21-:containing the; magnetlzed: pins and "when said hey is, inserted in the: key :slot the selected magnetic ,plns :Will' :be

attracted toward said key and'ithey'will "ber'dra'wn with :a laterally ex 1 1 v is =fnrmed with a iflnt recess 25 extending :therethrough fromsend-fto end and is adapted to receive .a fiatLkeyeZ B. \(Dn'e' clear of the notches 23 in the rings 4 while other pins will engage the rings to turn same the required distance to align the openings 5 to allow the bolt 9 to move into operative engagement with the notch in the member l6 and thereby operate the lock. If a plain steel key is inserted in the key slot all the pins will be withdrawn-from engagement with vthe operating rings and the lock will be inoperative. Likewise if an all non-magnetic key is inserted all the pins will engage the rings and some rings, if not all,

will be turned an improper distance and the bolt openings 5 will not be aligned and the lock will It will be understood that a lock may be con- .structe'dwith 'one, two or three magnetic pins arranged to engage notches in the rings 4 and a lock may have any desirable number of rings. Consequently there will be a 'very wide rangeof selection :ln .the :matter :of ;pin' arrangement in respect :to the :rings and magnetic insert in respectato the keys.

*Orifi'ces '22! with "their magnetic pins will be arrangedwin the rotatable *cylindrica'l block 1 relativeto ZllhBiSELVBIfi]. rings so that when one-or more pins are :in contact withand engaging the notche intthering, :such ring will be turned -'on the turning of the key so that the-openings :5 :of the several rings will be moved into alignment and upon these openings :coming into alignment the spring l9 housed in the recess M will force the bolt Sendwise. The :bevelledend of thebolt engagesathe .plate 2 and 'a 'further turn'ing movement aligns the bolt with the'opening [2". The teeth 10 being -aligned with 'the r'ingopen'ing's 5 will :allow the bolt to move -Ireely so that the bevelled end of the bolt-extends through the cpening'in the plate-l2 and engages the nctch-ZO of -the rotatable :member'h'oused Bin the casing, whioh mem'ber is connected-to a suitableiormef latch lock.

At' the opposite end 0f -'the structure to the plate i! 'isarranged a flanged disc 29, the' flange 28' df which engages the flange 3 of the body 'l. A portion of such-fiange is cutaway'to dorm a slot 29" "and a pin 30 secured in theflan'ge 3 extends into the slotted-flange 'of the 'disc and thus limits its rotation.

A suitable escutcheon ring 3| surrounds "theouter flange 32 formed on the body-l to fit-against thesurface of a doororother structure into which the lock is placed and the body will be held in the lock recess by any suitable formof pla'te I33 attached to theinner rotatable end of the-structure.

It will be understoedthat th'e spacing of the notches 23 in the rings 4 and the variations in the length of the notches 6 in the rings 4 will lend a very wide range-to the structure so that an infinite selection-of keys 'may be 'hadin a range of locks.

The rotation of the cylindrical block I relative to "the rings 4 may also be limited "by inserting pins 34 in'the block -Ito extend into the notches 6, thus preventing the rings riding against the ripheral surface to be engaged by the magnetic ins. p The steel body I is here shown of eccentric form and in the centre part thereof is arranged a slot 35.

An opening or slot 36 is arranged between the ends of the spring rings 4' and a bolt member 31 slidably mounted in the outer casing and urged inwardly by a spring 38 is formed with a rounded head 39 whichslides in the slot 35 and enters the notch 36 in the rings and a notch 40 is formed in the member I to receive the inner curved end of the head when the notch 36 in the ring is brought into register with the slot 35 and the notch 39 is also in register.

The key to be inserted into the slot 25 is provided with suitable magnetic inserts to bring about the co-operation of the magnetic pins to engage the notches 23' in the ring 4', and upon the turning of the key and the rotation of the block 1' with the proper magnetic pins engaging the notches in the rings, the notches 36 of the rings will be brought into register with the slot 35 and the notch 40, thus operating the bolt.

The relative rotative movement of the rings and the block I is controlled by a radial pin 4| secured in the block .1 and extending into a circumferential slot 42 in the inner wall of each I of the rings.

The rounded surface of the inner end of the bolt head will, upon the rotation of the member I, be forced outwardly and this" outward movement in looking the bolt is continued by the engagement of the rounded edges of the notch 36 in the rings. This moves the bolt outwardly to the position shown in Figure 8 from the unlocked position shown in Figure 9.

A magnetic lock such as described lends itself readily to mass production and when completed it forms a lock which is practically impossible to open without the proper key. The insertion of a plain piece of steel into the key slot will simply lift all the magnetic pins out of contact with their co-operating rings and as the key is closed in over the top it will be practically impossible for anyone to search the surface of the key slot adjacent to the pins to locate the various pins; These pins 'move noiselessly and they perform their function in a very simple manner.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A magnetic lock comprising a cylindrical block having a longitudinal key recess'and a plurality of orifices extending inward from its periphery toward said key recess, magnetized pins slidably mounted in said orifices, a plurality of rings rotatably encircling said block and having notches in their inner surface to receive and engage said pins to cause said rings and block to rotate together, a, body of magnetic material having a cylindrical orifice and enclosing said rings and block and adapted to attract said magnetized pins to move outwardly to engage the notches in said rings, and a key having magnetic and non-magnetic portions adapted to register with certain of said pin orifices, and locking means operatively associated with said rotatable block and rings. e

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rings encircling said. rotatable block are each formed with a transverse slot, said slots being notches in said rings upon partial rotation of said cylindrical block, said locking means being arranged to co-operate with said transverse ring slots.

'3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rings encircling said rotatableblock are each formed with a transverse slot, said slots being adapted to be aligned by the co-operation of certain of said magnetized pins with the internal notches in said ring upon partial rotation of said cylindrical block, said cylindrical block having a longitudinal slot adapted to register with the aligned slots in said rings, and locking means co-operatively associated with the longitudinal slot in said rotatable block and the aligned slots of said rings.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rings encircling said rotatable block are each formed with a transverse slot, said slots being adapted to be aligned by the co-operation of certain of said magnetized pins with the internal notches in said ring upon partial rotation of said cylindrical block, said cylindrical block having a longitudinal slot adapted to register with the aligned slots in said rings, a bolt slidable in the longitudinal slot in said block and having restricting projections adapted to enter the aligned slots in said rings, means for restraining the longitudinal movement of said bolt during the rotative movements of said rings to align the slots therein, and means engaged by said bolt for operating the lock following the aligning of said ring slots.

5. A device as claimed in claim '1 in which the rings encircling said rotatable block are each formed with a transverse slot, said slots being adapted to be aligned by the co-operation of certain of "said magnetized pins with the internal notches insaid ring upon partial rotation of said cylindrical block, said cylindrical block having a longitudinal slot adapted to register with the aligned slots in said rings, a bolt slidable in the longitudinal slot in said block and having restricting projections adapted to enter the aligned slots in said rings, a plate arranged at one end of said cylindrical block and having an opening through which the bolt is adapted to project, spring means for moving said bolt in its slot, and a rotatable plate operatively connected with a lock and having a notch adapted to be engaged by said bolt when said bolt projects through the opening in the end plate. 7.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rings encircling said rotatable block are each'formed with a transverse slot, said slots being adapted to be aligned by the co-operation of certain of said magnetized pins with the in and adapted to move into said ring slots to effect the operation of the lock.

WILLIAM FELIX STROUD. 

